Toshiba Regza GL1 wants you to put down the glasses, enjoy the 3D

Toshiba Regza GL1 wants you to put down the glasses, enjoy the 3D

Toshiba might have abandoned OLED, but that doesn't mean the company is lacking ambition in the display-making field. Today it's using CEATEC 2010, Japan's biggest electronics expo, to make official that 21-inch glasses-free 3D prototype we've been hearing about. It's lost an inch in becoming a retail product, with the 20GL1 offering a 20-inch diagonal, but the important multi-parallax picture transmission (employing a lenticular lens setup as used in Philips' Dimenco) remains the same. The new set, accompanied by a smaller 12GL1 model, will be shipping in Japan this December, and if it really does what it promises, the rest of the world should not be far behind.

Update: Japan's Impress Watch has more details for us, listing a 720p resolution for the 20-incher and a funky 466 x 350 on the 12-inch GL1. Prices are estimated at ¥240,000 ($2,885) and ¥120,000 ($1,443), respectively.

Gallery: Toshiba Regza 20GL1 press images | 3 Photos

Gallery: Toshiba Regza 12GL1 press images | 7 Photos

Toshiba Unveils World First[1] 3D LCD TVs without Dedicated Glasses-Toshiba's new Glasses-less 3D REGZA GL1 Series to be availablefrom end of December -

Tokyo-Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today unveiled the world's first[1] LCD TVs that offer comprehensive 3D[2] capabilities without any need for dedicated glasses. The new "Glasses-less 3D REGZA GL1" series offers two models with screen sizes specifically designed for personal use: the 20-inch 20GL1 and the 12-inch 12GL1. Both TVs will be available in Japan from the end of December.

The new 3D TVs with no need for glasses employ an integral imaging system[3] and a perpendicular lenticular sheet[4] to display smooth, natural images, and Toshiba's image processing technology to create nine parallax images[5] from the original content and create to 3D images. The result is precise rendering of high quality 3D images whatever the viewing angle within the viewing zone[2].

The 20GL1 integrates a high definition LED backlit LCD panel specially designed for 3D capability without any need for glasses that offers approximately four times the pixels of a standard Full HD panel. It also integrates the Cell REGZA Engine designed for 3D capability without glasses and based on the Cell Broadband Engine™[6] to deliver superior multimedia processing. The result of this combination is stunningly sharp, dynamic 3D images.

Toshiba will respond to various needs from the users for LCD TV with 3D capability. This will include larger screen models that use dedicated glasses and personal use LCD TVs without glasses, all offering dynamic, stunning image depth and high image quality. Toshiba will continue to draw on synergies of its semiconductor and image processing technologies to advance REGZA series as the cutting-edge of TV technology, and to create and deliver new value to the market by continuing to expand its line-up, and by anticipating and responding to user needs.

Background to Development

Toshiba introduced the REGZA series as state-of-the-art TVs that make full use of synergies between its semiconductor and image processing technologies. Originally a 2D platform, REGZA TVs now deliver 3D images with superb quality to achieve an unsurpassed 3D experience.

Current 3D TV is based on active shutter glasses that deliver separate images to the left and right eyes. However, the market wants TVs that deliver the 3D experience without dedicated glasses across all content. In responding to this, Toshiba has adopted an integral imaging system that reproduces smooth, natural stereoscopic pictures, without any need for dedicated glasses. The company has channeled its initial efforts into personal-use 3D LCD TVs without glasses and is now commercializing 12- and 20-inch models. With these new TVs, Toshiba will seek to lead the market in 3D TV without glasses and to further increase its market share.Key Product Features1. The technology of 3D capability without glasses reproduces smooth, natural high quality 3D images

The new Glasses-less 3D REGZA GL1 series employ an integral imaging system and perpendicular lenticular sheet that can display natural and smooth high quality 3D images.

The integral imaging systems is based on the principal of sampling and collecting form several directions the light reflected from an object, and then faithfully reproducing the light through the display to realize smooth, natural images. Until now, conventional 3D technology without glasses has produced a fall off in image resolution and increased blurring[7] that has prevented practical use. Toshiba employs an LED backlit LCD panel specially designed for 3D content that systematically aligns pixels, and has also adopted a perpendicular lenticular sheet in order to realize precise rendering and natural, high quality 3D images.

Toshiba's technology simultaneously delivers nine parallax images to the LCD panel and controls and optimizes light emission and direction from the center, right and left of the screen to secure a wide viewing angle. The result is optimized display of high quality 3D images whatever the position and angle to the screen of the viewer[2].

This technology is the recipient of the 21st Century Invention Prize for 2010, one of the National Commendations for Invention, from the HATSUMEI KYOKAI, Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation.2. LCD panel designed for 3D capability without glasses

The 20GL1's high definition LED backlit LCD panel, specially designed for 3D capability without glasses, has approximately four times the pixels of a Full HD panel, approximately 8.29 million pixels. It can combine and display nine parallax images carrying information from nine images created in real time from a single frame. It transmits the final 3D image with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels.

Toshiba's LED backlight control system positions 1,440 LEDs directly under the LCD panel to realize bright 3D images. Moreover, each pixel can support the display of red green and blue (RGB) in a layout expressly designed for 3D imaging. Image data from each pixel is replicated nine times and the direction in which they are transmitted is controlled by the lenticular sheet. The result is smooth, natural 3D images that can be viewed from multiple angles without glasses.

The 12GL1 supports the same approach for approximately 1.47 million pixels and integrates an LED panel that can display 466 x 350 pixels.

The 20GL1 LCD panel is the fruit of research with Toshiba Mobile Display Co., Ltd. This was supported in part under the revised budget for FY2009 from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications for "Research and Development on Glasses- Free 3D Image Technologies."3. Newly developed engine designed for 3D capability without glasses

The 20GL1 integrates the Cell Broadband Engine™[6] and the Glasses-less 3D CELL REGZA Engine, newly developed multi-parallax conversion LSIs designed for superior multimedia processing. High speed arithmetic processing creates nine parallax images from original content and converts it to 3D images with real depth, allowing Toshiba to achieve precise rendering of natural, high quality 3D images.

For the 12GL1, the newly developed engine designed for 3D capability without glasses combined with Toshiba's image processing LSIs and multi-parallax LSIs creates the 3D image.4. Focus on Environmental Considerations

(1) Integration of LED backlight

The Glasses-less REGZA GL1 Series TVs are environmentally conscious products that integrate energy-saving LED backlighting. The backlights are free of mercury, which occurs at trace levels in cold cathode fluorescent (CCFL) backlights.

(2) Energy-saving features

The 20GL1 offers a number of energy-saving features:- Power consumption is controlled by maintaining optimum image brightness.- Automatic stand-by if no command is received from the remote controller for approximately three hours.- Automatic stand-by mode if, when the TV is set to external input, no signal is received for approximately 15 minutes.

(3) Effective use of resources

All components that use over 25g of plastic indicate the materials used and are designed for recycling. Use of polylactic resin, a biodegradable, vegetable-based plastic 100% derived from corn, contributes to reduced consumption of petroleum and to lower CO2 emissions.

(4) RoHS[8] and J-Moss[9] (Green Mark)compatible

The REGZA GL1 Series contributes to moves toward environmentally conscious products by achieving full compliance with the EU's RoHS and Japan's J-Moss.About Toshiba Group Environmental Vision

Environmental Vision 2050 guides Toshiba Group in achieving a ten-fold increase in overall eco-efficiency by 2050, compared to 2000, in order to contribute to the future of a sustainable Earth as a "corporate citizen of planet Earth". Toward this goal, we promote initiatives aimed at realizing a world where people lead affluent lives in harmony with the Earth, based on the concept of three "Greens": Greening of Process (environmentally conscious manufacturing process), Greening of Products (environmentally conscious products), and Greening by Technology (contributing through environmental technology). Toshiba Group promotes its environmental initiatives under the global brand "Toshiba eco style."

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Toshiba unveils world´s first[1] 3D Flatpanel-TV without glasses

The new 3D TVs without glasses will be available in Japan in December 2010

Neuss, Germany 4th October 2010 – Toshiba today announced at CEATEC 2010, Japan's biggest consumer electronics show, its first commercially available 3D[2] TVs that can be used without glasses. With the two TVs, one with a screen size of 12'' (30.5 cm) and another with 20'' (50.8 cm), viewers get a three dimensional viewing experience comfortably, without the need to wear 3D glasses. The products will be available by the end of December 2010 in Japan. Toshiba also showcases a laptop prototype as a proof of concept with a 12'' (30.5 cm) 3D display without glasses at CEATEC in Tokyo.

Innovative technology allows a 3D experience without glassesThe newly developed technological innovation for 3D-TVs without glasses uses an integral imaging system. It provides nine different perspectives (parallaxes) of each single 2D frame which the viewer's brain superimposes to create a 3-dimensional impression of the image. Toshiba achieved this thanks to its engineers' huge knowledge of display technology and of semiconductor and software design. They developed a powerful engine and an algorithm to extrapolate these perspectives out of the 2D frame and used a perpendicular lenticular sheet, an array of lenses, that enable the viewer's brain to superimpose the perspectives. It also offers a wide viewing area in front of the display and allows movement of the eyes and head without disrupting the 3D image and without the discomfort sometimes associated with other 'glasses-less' 3D technologies.

High picture quality on all TVs in 2D and 3D"With its new 3D TVs without glasses Toshiba once again aims to offer the highest possible picture quality" says Sascha Lange, Head of Marketing, Visual Products, Toshiba Europe. The new TVs do not compromise on the 2D experience: they switch between 3D and 2D mode in a few seconds.

Another step into the future of 3D TVThe small screen size 3D TVs without glasses are targeted at a small group of early adopters. With the new TVs, Toshiba wants to prove that auto-stereoscopic 3D displays are both technologically and commercially feasible. "The commercial launch of our 12'' and 20'' 3D TVs without glasses in Japan is a first step into the 3D future in the consumer home cinema market," says Sascha Lange. "But it will take several years to develop larger 3D TVs without glasses with screen sizes of 40'' and more at a yet reasonable price point. Those who want to enjoy the 3D home cinema experience on a large screen already today are well served by 3D TV using active shutter glasses like the models of our WL768 series."

Join our live webcastToday, 4th October 2010 at 14:00 CET, Toshiba Europe presents a live webcast with information about the latest developments in 3D without glasses. To register for the webcast please go to www.toshiba.eu/ceatec.

[1] As of October 4th, 2010 for digital high definition LCD TV in consumer markets. (Source: Toshiba)[2] Warning: A very small proportion of the population may experience health-related complications when viewing 3D images. Please refrain from watching 3D content if you get any physical problem and consult a physician. Perception of 3D effects will differ from person to person and according to content. Due to the possibility of impact on vision development, viewers of 3D video images should be aged 6 or older. Please refer to the 3D viewing precautions in the manual when viewing 3D images.There is viewing zone that can be seen as 3D; however, outside of this zone, images may not been seen in 3D, in whole or in part.